parable

literature

Written by

Urnesha Bhattacherjee

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Britannica Editors

History

parable, short fictitious narrative that teaches a moral lesson, doctrine, standard of conduct, or religious principle. It is a subset of the literary device allegory, in which a story contains one or more layers of meaning beyond its surface-level or literal meaning. The term derives from the Greek word parabolē, meaning “placing side by side” or “to compare.” This origin reflects the basic function of the parable: to teach by analogy. Unlike fables, which rely on...

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